Dr. John Ewen is a retired industrial research chemist whose work with metallocene catalysts significantly improved the manufacturing of plastics that are more durable, heatproof, tear resistant and transparent. He was born in Kingston and attended Munro College like his father before him but eventually finished high school in Canada as he was apparently not a very good student and always getting into trouble. He returned to Jamaica and The University of the West Indies to pursue a degree in chemistry having taken a liking to the subject whilst at Munro and gained some discipline at school abroad. He completed his B.Sc. in 1972 and moved to the USA and having been influenced by Professor Gerald Lalor who instilled in him the importance of research, he completed a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry at the University of Tulane. His first job was at Exxon Mobile Chemical Company where he conducted research on the synthesis of plastics and pioneered the study of metallocenes, a group of catalysts which are used to produce plastics with elements of metal in them. The process involves mimicking the way nature incorporates traces of metals in organic molecules, as with iron in the haemoglobin of red blood cells, and magnesium in the chlorophyll of green plants. He later worked at the Fina Oil and Chemical Company where the research he lead continued to enhance the production of polyethylene plastics whether the thin, transparent but strong plastics used in packaging or heavier plastics used for furniture and automobile parts. From 1991 to 2004 he was President of Catalyst Research Corporation, Houston, Texas, and since retirement has worked as a consultant including the development of an even more advanced group of catalysts, called heterocines. In 2002, Dr. Ewen was awarded the American National Medal of Technology, which is the highest possible award in that field, and comparable to a Nobel Prize in chemistry, for which he was actually nominated in 1993. In 2004, he was awarded the honorary Doctor of Science from The University of the West Indies. His advice to young people is that: “Research is an exciting and interesting way to make a living and one must focus on the needs of the society to make an impact.” He also adds,”Pushing back the frontiers of science is highly rewarding and one can have a very satisfying life if you enjoy what you do.”